Based on the 1999 film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon (which itself is based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s novel Les Liasions dangereuses), Cruel Intentions‘ journey to the stage has been an interesting one. After productions in LA and New York in 2015, the show found success Off-Broadway two years later. A revamped production by Bill Kenwright premiered at Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, moving into The Other Palace last year.
Having seen and reviewed it for BroadwayWorld, how does this UK tour fare in comparison?
I was gifted a press ticket in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical
Cast
- Kathryn Merteuil: Nic Myers
- Sebastian Valmont: Will Callan
- Annette Hargrove: Olivia Brookes (u/s)
- Cecile Caldwell: Lucy Cater
- Blaine Tuttle: Luke Conner Hall
- Greg McConnell: Joe Simmons
- Ronald Clifford: Kevin Yates
- Mrs Bunny Caldwell: Gabriella Williams
Rating: ★★★
What is Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical about?
Step siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil engage in a cruel bet: Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove, the headmaster’s virtuous daughter.
Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. It’s not long before the duo become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance, with explosive results…
What are my thoughts on Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical?
While I enjoyed at The Other Palace production for its tongue-in-cheek tone that felt like a parody of the film, this tone feels lost in this touring production. With the goings-on of the New York upper crust teens treated with uber seriousness, characters remain broad but the situations they get involved in don’t. This results in the book’s outdated elements from homophobic slurs to Sebastian committing revenge p*rn feeling more icky than inducing laughter out of shock – and that’s despite one encounter between Sebastian and Cecile being somewhat more consensual and Blaine and Greg’s relationship being treated with more sensitivity.
Cruel Intentions is a jukebox musical filled to the brim hit 90’s songs, but seeing this touring version made me realise how poorly some were integrated. This is partly due to the above mentioned tongue-in-cheek tone being gone, but songs that made me burst out laughing in the Other Palace production i.e. Wannabe and No Scrubs garnered light chuckles this time. Some work like Counting Crows Colorblind and a hilarious I Saw The Sun, others vaguely fit the scene they’re a part of i.e. Lovefool and Genie in a Bottle. This makes the show fall into the trap of similar jukebox musicals trying to cram in as many popular songs as possible instead of ones that’d naturally fit the story.
There are parts that work from the Other Palace production and translate well for the tour. Polly Sullivan’s set evokes the elite of the Upper East Side with a platform to show off the band, complemented by Nick Riching’s lighting that bursts with colour. While there’s no revolving stage this time, Gary Lloyd’s music video style choreography adds energy movement to scenes and musical numbers, even creeping in iconic 90’s dances.
What’s the cast like?
What can’t be denied in the Cruel Intentions tour is the talent of the cast. Nic Myers’ Kathryn Merteuil is biting and cunning in her meddling to get what she wants, yet also hilarious with her line snarky line deliveries – and that’s on top of stunning vocals. Will Callan offers a Ryan Phillipe-esque charm, capturing Sebastian’s arc of turning from a cocky ladies boy to a man falling in love. We had cover Olivia Brookes in her debut as Annette Hargrove for press night, a confident performance with natural charm.
Lucy Carter is a hilarious standout as the ridiculously childlike Cecile as she goes through her burgeoning sexual awakening. Luke Conner Hall is similarly hilarious as Blaine, making his feelings for Greg surprisingly sincere even with his snark and over the top personality.
What are my overall thoughts?
There are elements to praise in this Cruel Intentions tour like the cast and design, but the tongue-in-cheek style humour that added to the Other Palace production now feels lost. It’s strange writing a review for a production that’s for the most part the same from its last iteration disappointed me.
Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical runs at the New Theatre Oxford until April 19.
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